King Kamehameha III established Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day) in 1843 as a days-long celebration following the rightful return of sovereign government to Hawaiʻi by the United Kingdom, after an illegal seizure by one of their representatives. He proclaimed, “Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono”–the ea (sovereignty, life, breath) of our land is perpetuated through justice.

Hawaiians continue to breathe life into sovereignty, and one way to do this is to celebrate ka Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea. After decades of suppression, the celebrations were revived in 1985 by Uncle Kekuni Blaisdell and other kānaka aloha ʻāina as a way to give voice to Hawaiian independence and to issues surrounding the return and demilitarization of Hawaiian lands.

Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea invite you to celebrate in your community, or to join the LHE Honolulu ʻohana at Thomas Square on July 30 from 10am – 6pm. Learn more by clicking here.